Noxolo Kiviet, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, has encouraged young people who have completed their training via the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to use their newly gained skills to seek work in the formal sector.
“I am strongly convinced that you will live up to your calling as artisans in various fields of the built environment to the very best of your abilities,” Deputy Minister Kiviet said on Friday.
Kiviet told the graduates at the Pretoria graduation ceremony of young people who have completed their training in diverse disciplines of the built environment that the department is proud of their success.
“As you exit the programme today, I wish to encourage you to use the skills you have acquired from the training to look for employment in the formal sector,” Kiviet said.
In total, 37 young people finished their three-year training in various professions, passed their trade tests, and were awarded Red Seal certificates by the Qualification Council for Trade and Occupation (QCTO) under Section 26(D) (4) of the Skills Development Act, 1998. (Act No 97 of 1998).
Kiviet also encouraged graduates to form cooperatives in order to help the country with the critical goal of establishing job opportunities for other young people in their localities.
She stated that the Artisan Development Programme is one of the important government efforts aimed at giving youth with scarce and critical skills, consequently providing the trainees with improved work opportunities.
“It is important to note that the EPWP program in one of the apprenticeship programme, it plays a critical role in the workforce and in the provision of scarce and critical skills in South Africa,” the Deputy Minister said.
Kiviet stated that the EPWP is currently teaching 367 young people in various artisan skills such as plumbing, painting, paving, welding, and general civil work across South Africa.
Kiviet noted that the graduating students are among the 40 young people recruited under the National Youth Service (NYS) Program.
“The selected participants demonstrated an interest for further learning and they met the minimum requirement for artisan training which is N2 or Grade 12 with Mathematics and Science,” Kiviet said.
One of the graduates, Emanuel Happy Kgori, who qualified as a plumber, said upon hearing about the programme, took advantage of the opportunity.
“I thank the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for giving us this opportunity to improve our lives,” he said.
Kgori said he is happy with his achievement.
Also graduating, was Pretty Khumalo who qualified as a bricklayer.
“Am happy that I can be counted among women who break the stereotype that bricklaying is for men.
“Bricklaying is not only for men, anyone can do it,” she said.
Narrating her journey to becoming a qualified bricklayer, Khumalo said the journey has not been easy.
“At some stage I was about to give up but had to persevere, I am happy for the opportunity given to us as young people to be qualified artisans,” Khumalo said.
The young graduates were recruited as part of the EPWP NYS program.
The trainees received a monthly stipend of R3 000 while undergoing training.
The chosen participants displayed a desire in continuing their education and met the minimum standards for artisan training, which are N2 or Grade 12 in Mathematics and Science.
The program was entirely financed by a 5% NYS budget allocation from the DPWI Justice College project WCS 047104 and included 22 electrical trades, 12 bricklaying trades, and three plumbing trades.